Automatic distributor



y 1962 L. H. SMITH 3,034,181

AUTOMATIC DISTRIBUTOR Filed June 22, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 i P i i 242\.

gig}! INVENTOR. LOF TON H. SMITH y 5, 1962 L. H. SMITH 3,034,181

AUTOMATIC DISTRIBUTOR Filed June 22, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.LOFTON H. SMITH May 15, 1962 L. H. SMITH 3,034,181

AUTOMATIC DISTRIBUTOR Filed June 22, 1959 4 Sheets Sheet 3 IN V EN TOR.LOFTON H. SMITH May 15, 1962 L. H. SMITH 3,034,181

AUTOMATIC DISTRIBUTOR Filed June 22, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Machinery ToPreceding IN V EN TOR.

LOFTON H. SMITH undesirable.

United States Patent' 3,034,181 AUTGMATEC DISTREUTfiR Lofton H. Smith,2164 Collins Drive NW., Atlanta 18, Ga. Filed June 22, 1959, Ser. No.821,770 19 Claims. (Cl. 19-404) This invention relates generally tofeeding machines, and more particularly to an automatic distributor formechanically carrying cotton stock from a line of processing machineryand distributing it automatically as needed to a number of pickers orthe like.

There are several types of automatic distributors now in use in thecotton industry, almost all of which have the one great disadvantage ofallowing excess cotton to be fed to the hoppers of the followingmachinery, such as pickers, which excess is either forced into thepicker hopper or recirculated to the inlet side of the distributor.Thus, in either case, a large amount of mechanical action and agitationis given to the cotton stock which has already been opened, whichresults in the cotton being rolled, compressed, and twisted, thusdestroying any benefits which would otherwise be derived from theprevious cleaning and opening operation.

In a customary type of cotton mill installation, a number of pickers arefed by a single cleaning line of machinery. Since almost all openingmachinery handles a minimum of 1000 pounds of cotton per hour, and anaverage picker production is 300-400 pounds per hour,

' it will be realized that at least three pickers will be needed foreach line of opening machinery, and in many cases 7 more are required.In the systems of automatic distribution now in use the cotton from theopemng machinery line is fed onto a single conveyor, which extends aboveand transversely to the picker hoppers, and distributes the cotton tothe hoppers through any suitable means, such as rakes on an endless beltwhich carry the cotton along the conveyor housing which has openings inthe bottom thereof above each picker hopper.

Although there are other methods of feeding cotton stock, basically thesame system is used, whereby, regardless of the demands of the second,third and other pickers, the demands of the first picker are satisfiedfirst before cotton will be carried to the next picker in the line. Thishas the obvious disadvantage that if two or three pickers should requirecotton at once, the first or second pickers will initially receive thecotton and by the time the stock is supplied to the third picker it willhave already created large variations in the picker lap, which, ofcourse, are Such laps must be reworked by the picker machinery and thisis not only expensive but lowers the quality of the cotton.

Another disadvantage of this type of distributing system is that if allof the picker hoppers are full and an excess of cotton stock is suppliedby the distributor, this excess the picker hoppers again requires asupply of cotton stock. Obviously this constant agitation of the cottonthrough the distributor and recirculation means has a tendency to rollthe cotton into a ball and thus negate all of the previous openingoperations which have been performed. With these defects of the priorart in mind, it is the primary object of the present invention toprovide an automatic distributor for pickers which will immediately feedany one or all of the pickers in the line almost immediately upondemand, and at the same time, so that the pickers will be fedconcurrently and the second, third, and other pickers need not waituntil the first picker hopper is full before receiving the cotton stockwhich they are demanding.

3,034,181 Patented Ma 15, 1962 Another object of this invention is toprovide a device of the character described wherein as the feeding istaking place a cleaning operation is also performed which is not at theexpense of any extra time or space than would be required for thefeeding alone.

A further object of this invention is to provide an automaticdistributing device which properly integrates the feeding of cottonstock from the opening line to the distributor, and again from thedistributor to each of the pickers individually, so that there will beneither extra mechanical handling or agitation of the cotton when thereis an excess of stock, nor a substantial waiting period before feeding ahungry picker hopper.

The foregoing objects and others ancillary thereto are accomplishedaccording to a preferred embodimentof the invention, wherein theautomatic distributor is enclosed within a'housing, the upper portion ofwhich constitutes a hopper which feeds a plurality of distributingunits; each feeding a separate picker. Within the hopper proper andabove each distributing unit is disposed a feeler for assuring that asuflicient supply of cotton stock is in the hopper. Cotton will continueto feed to the hopper until all of the feelers in the hopper, that is,

. the feelers of each distributing unit, have been deactivated by thecotton stock therein.

Each distributing unit comprises a pair of slow moving feeding rollerswhich carry the cotton stock in a mass to a high speed cylinder whichgrasps and removes tufts of cotton from the slowly moving mass ofcotton. This cotton is then tossed against a grid section or screenwhich surrounds the cylinder so as to remove some of the trash which thepreceding line of machinery failed to remove. The fast moving cylindercreates a draft which, together with the draft from the pickercondenser, carries the cotton through an outlet provided adjacent thecylinder and carries it tln-ough suitable means such as pipes or tubesto the picker.

A cutoff bar is provided downstream of the outlet to remove any cottonwhich may adhere to the cylinder. A plurality of air vents are providedin the general vicinity of the downstream side of the grid, so that thesuction created by the quickly rotating cylinder will create a draftwhich increases the draft caused by the picker condenser. If these ventswere located in any other position, difficulty would be encounteredsince the air flowing therethrough would blow the trash falling throughthe grid bars back against the cylinder and little or no trash' could beremoved from the cotton.

Suitable drive means for the feed rollers are provided, such as anindividual motor for the drive rolls of each unit, or an individualclutch for the drive rolls of each unit, which motor or clutch iscontrolled by a feeler motion in the picker fed by the distributor unit.

If desired, a hopper feeding mechanism may be provided to properlydistribute the cotton stock in the hopper over the feed rolls of therespective units. This mechanism includes a movable gate and an endlessconveyor adjacent thereto which is constantly moving and is disposedabove each distributing unit but the last, which will be fed by theconveyor of the preceding unit. A feeler motion is provided to'open eachgate when the supply of stock above its unit falls'below' apredetermined level. Control means are also provided to assure that nogate opens on a lar unit is being fed.

The novel features that are considered characteristic of the inventionare set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The inventionitself, however, both as to its organization and its method ofoperation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, willbest preceding-unit while any particube understood from the followingdescription of specific embodiments when read in connection withthe'accom- 'panying drawings, wherein like reference characters in maticdistributor which is in turn fed by a condenser at the end of a cleaningline;

FIG. 2. is a side elevational view of the system illus trated in FIG. 1illustrating a finisher picker being used with. the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken through theautomatic distributor illustrating the essential elements thereof;

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the planedefined by reference line 4--.4 of FIG. 3 with parts of the cylinderbroken away for clarity;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of one side of the distributorillustrating part of the drive means for the cylinder and feed rolls;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the other side of the distributorillustrating additional drive means for the cylinders and the feedrolls;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken through anotherembodiment of the invention wherein a hopper feeding mechanism isprovided;

FIG. 8 is a transverse sectional view of the device shown in FIG. 7,illustrating the control gate, and

FIG. 9 is a circuit diagram for the apparatus of FIGS. 7 and 8.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, and more par- ,ticularly, toFIGURES 1 and 2, an arrangement of three finisher pickers P1, P2 and P3,is shown cooperating with the automatic distributor 10. It is to beunderstood,

however, that any number of pickers may be used-with cleaning line orablending and mixing unit is drawn through conduit 14 by condenser 12and is deposited through outlet 15 to distributor which is open at thetop. The distributor 10 feeds the three pickers P1, P2 and P3, throughconduits 16, 18and 20, respectively, by means of condenser's'22, 24 and26, respectively, which draw cotton through the conduits and deposit thestock into. the hoppers of the pickers.

The automatic distributor proper, as seen more clearly in FIGURES 3 and4, is constructed of vertical end walls 28 and 30, and vertical sidewalls 32 and 34, which may be joined together and reinforced by anysuitable reinforcing structure. The top of distributor 10 is open andthe upper interior portion thereof is free and clear so as to provide ahopper 36 into which cotton stock from condenser outlet may bedeposited. Disposed in the medial portion of the distributor are aseries of batlles forming an arrangement 38 which assures feeding ofcotton stock to the feeding sections- 40a, 40b, and 400 one beingprovided for each of the pickers P.

The battle arrangement '38 includes longitudinally extending, downwardlyprojecting bafiles 42 of relatively short width, and attached to sideWalls 32 and 34 for the purpose of urging cotton away from the sidewalls 32 and 34 which house the axles for the various rolls, and in thismanner cotton stock is kept frominterfering with the rotation thereof.Each of the units '40 has transversely extending and downwardlyprojecting baffles 44 and 46 at either side of the unit 40 to direct thecotton properly toward the feed'rolls.

Each of the units 40' comprises a pair of feed rolls 48 and 50 rotatingin opposite directions to receive the stockdirected thereto by thebafiie arrangement and feed it downwardly toward a quickly rotatingcylinder 52.

cleaning of the cotton may take place during the feeding operation. Anoutlet is provided between enclosure 54 and grid bars 58 so that thecotton stock which is now in the form of tufts of fiber can be removedfrom the vicinity of unit 40. A clearer roll 62 is disposed adjacent thefeed roll 50, and rotates in the same direction, and at a faster speedto assure that the fibers do not lap about the roll 50 which woulddestroy the grasping action of the feed rolls.

Any type of grippingsurface may be provided on the feed rolls 48 and 50,such as by making them fluted. However, as shown in FIGURE 3, the rollsareprovided with conventional metallic card clothing as are the clearerrolls 62. The main cylinders 52 are also constructed having cardclothing thereon. A cutoff'bar 64 is provided in' the downstream portionof outlet 60, so as to assure removal of tufts of cotton fibers from thepins of the clothing on the cylinders 52, so the cotton will be forcedinto outlet 60 both by centrifugal force and the current of air which iscreated by the quickly rotating cylinder and suction from the condenserover the picker. The cylinder 52 extends the full width of thedistributor, and therefore so does the outlet 60.

A duct 66 extending the full width of the distributor connects outlet 60with a transistor 68, which connects each of the units with itsrespectiveconduit 16, 18 and 20.

That portion of the distributor 10 which is disposed below the gridsection 58 comprises a trash chamber having a bottom '70, side wallswhich are the same as the sidewalls for the distributor, that is 32 and34, and end walls which are the walls of ducts 66 or may include an endwall of the distributor 28 or 30. The top of the chamber is formed by aportion 67 of duct 66, the grid section 58, and a horizontal plate 69extending from the junction of (grid section 58 and enclosure 56, toduct 66 of an adjacent unit or an end wall. The side walls of thechambers are provided with large openings 72 which are closed by doors74 so that access may be gained to the chamber to remove the trashtherefrom.

Disposed in the vicinity of the downstream portion of the grid section58 and outlet 60, is a plurality of vents 76, which are formedthroughthe side walls 32 and 34 ofthe distributor, so that the suctioncreated bythe fast moving cylinder 52 and suction from the pickercondenser will create a draft which will conduct the cotton through theoutlet 60. These. vents must be disposed near the downstream portion ofgrid section 58, so that the currents of air will flow through thedownstream portion of the grid and then directly to the outlet 60 whichis located in close proximity thereto. In this manner, there will be aslittle air disturbance as possible in the trash chamber and through thegrid bars 58. Otherwise, the current of air entering through vents 76would blow the trash back through gn'd bars 58 and little cleaning couldbe performed. 7

Each of the main cylinders is constructed of a steel shell or tube 78fitted with end flanges 80. An axle 82 is fixed in the end flanges, andthe ends of each axle are journaled in bearings 84 supported on anglemembers 86 which are, in turn, fixed to the side walls 32 and 34 of thedistributor. The axle of the center cylinder 52 of unit 401) has apulley 88 fixed to one end and two pulleys 90 fixed to the other endthereof. Pulley 88 has a belt 92 disposed therearound the other loop ofwhich is disposed about pulley 94 on motor 96, so that the motor 96drives the center cylinder 52. As seen in FIGURE 6, a pulley 98 is fixedto the end of each axle 82 of the other cylinder 52 and projects on thesame side as do pulleys $0. Belts 100 are disposed about pulleys 90 and98, so that all three of the cylinders rotate at the same speed and inthe same direction,since all of the pulleys are of the same diameter.

Although the feed rolls 48 and 50, and clearer roll 62, may be driven bya mechanism connected to motor 96, they are illustrated as being drivenby small motors 102 fixed to brackets 104- on walls 32. The motors havesprockets 106 driving sprockets 110 fixed to -axles'112 of rolls 50 bymeans of a chain 108. On the other side of the axles 112 are fixed othersprockets 114 which by means of chains 116 drive sprockets 118 which aremuch smaller than sprockets 114. Since sprockets 118 are attached toaxles 62' of clearer roll 62, it may be seen that the clearer rolls willrotate in the same direction as rolls 50, but at a much greater speed.Gears 120 and 122 are fixed to the shafts of rolls 48 and 50, areintermeshed, and have the same number of teeth so that the rolls rotatein opposite directions and at the same speed.

In order to properly program the passage of cotton through the system,various feeler motions are provided which will be described below inconnection with the general operation of the automatic distributors 1 Inoperation, cotton stock is drawn through'conduit 14 by means ofcondenser 12 and is then deposited through condenser outlet 15 into thehopper 36. This flow of cotton continues until all three of the feelermotions 126a, 126b and 1260, are depressed. Each of the feelers isdisposed directly above the feed rolls of a corresponding unit, so thatshould the cotton stock level in the hopper drop below a desired minimumquantity, the feeler 126 actuates the preceding line-of machinery tofeed to conduit 14. Thus, depending upon the amount of cotton in thehopper 36, the flow of cotton stock through conduit 14 is controlled,such as by having the feelers 126 operate relays 128 which may controlthe feed to the preceding line of machinery or completely stop thismachinery.

The cotton stock within the hopper 36 is conducted toward feed rolls 48and 50 of the respective units 40a, 40b, and 40c, by the bafflearrangement 38, including bafies 42 which prevent the cotton fromgaining access to the ends or the rolls where it may become lapped aboutthe axles of the rolls and cause ditficulty. A large mass of slowlymoving cotton is conveyed by feed rolls 48 and 50 toward the quicklymoving cylinder 52 which grasps small tufts of cotton therefrom. Clearerroll 62 keeps feed roll 50 clean by preventing the cotton from lappingtherearound. The tufts of cotton on cylinder 52 are thrown against gridsection 58 so that trash may be removed through the grid bars, and thenthe cotton is removed through outlet 60, and any stubborn tufts ofcotton which cling to the cardclothing on the cylinder are positivelyremoved by cutofi bar 64.

Since vacuum would be created by the quickly rotating cylinder 52 andthe picker condenser, vents 76 are pro vided to allow sufiicient airtoenter the unit so that the cotton may be conducted by means of the aircurrents, to outlet 60 and through duct 66, to the transition 68, andthence to the respective conduits 16, 18 and 20, which are fed by units40a, 40b and 40c respectively. The cotton in the ducts 66, thetransitions 68 and the conduits, is aided in its passage therethrough bythe respective picker condenser 22, 24, and 26. The cotton stock is thenfed into hoppers 129 of the pickers. Each of the hoppers contains afeeler mechanism 130, which assures that each picker contains asufficient supply of cotton stock. I

If the cotton stock should fall below the level of feeler 130, then themotors 102 will be energized. However, should the supply of cotton besuflicient to depress feeler 130, then an arrangement is providedwhereby the motors 102 will be deenengized in response to the particularpicker with which this motor is associated. If desired,

1 this feeler 130 may open and close a switch to control in a hopperfeed or distributing mechanism 140 isprovided so as to more evenlydistribute cotton stock in the hopper, and assure that this stock isdisposed above the feed rolls of the respective distributing units 40A,40B

and 40C. The hopper 36 is fed by an outlet 142 which is disposed at oneend of the hopper 36, as dilferentiated from the preceding embodimentwherein the outlet extended the whole length of the hopper.

The hopper feeding mechanism is constructed of a horizontalbaflie 144which is disposed between the outlet 142 and one end wall of the hopper.Directly below the outlet 142 is a control gate 146 which is normally inits closed position, as illustrated in FIG. 7, and is disposed abovedistributing unit 40C. Immediately adjacent this control gate 146 is anendless conveyor 148 mounted upon rolls 150 and 152 respectively. Thisconveyor 148 is constantly rotating so that if control gate .146 is inits closed position, the cotton stock falling from outlet 142 will becarried by conveyor 148 to a position above distributing unit 40B and ifthe control gate 154 of this unit is open, as shown in FIG. 7, this unitwill receive a sufficient supply of cotton stock. However, if gate.154is also closed, then the cotton stock will be carried to distributingunit 40A by means of another conveyor 156 which is disposed about'rolls158 and 160.

As seen more clearly in FIG. 8, the roll 152 of conveyor 148 isjournaled in bearings attached to the walls of the hopper, and has aprojecting shaft 162 onto which two pulleys are dried, one of thesepulleys being connected by a belt to the corresponding roll 160 of theadjacent unit, and the other belt being driven by a pulley on shaft 82which is the center main cylinder shaft.

' Thus, the drive for the mechanism is supplied by the main motor 96.

Each of the gates 146 and 154 are supplied with control solenoids S1 andS2, respectively, which are connected to the axles or shafts upon whichthe gates are pivotally connected. Although there is no gate for unit40A, this unit may control its own feed, the operation of which will beexplained in connection withthe circuit diagram of FIG. 9. Each of thefeeler motions 126 -are supplied with corresponding switch units 128A,

128B and 1280.

Referring now more particularly to the circuit diagram of FIG. 9, it maybe seen that a power line is supplied which may feed the control circuitwhen switch S is closed. For safety purposes, fuses F are supplied.Relays 170A, 170B and 170C are connected in series with also be foundthat by starting with the same grade of cotion as was used previously,the present ma hin Wil i e is controlled by toggle switch D3, switch128A (actuated by feeler motion 126A), and contacts 182 and 171.

When relay 170C is actuated, contact 173 is closed and solenoid S1,controlling gate 146, is energized to open the gate. Also, contact 174closes to set the time delay relay T which controls the preceding lineof machinery through relay 200 and normally open contact 201, so thatrelay 200 is energized. In fact, when any relay 170 is energized, thetime delay relay is also energized. Relay 200 does not open when all therelays 170 open, but has a slight delay to prevent the preceding line ofmachinery from stopping when the feed is switching from one unit toanother, at which time all of the relays 170 may be open'for an instant.Thus, the time delay relay T prevents this undesired stopping of thepreceding machinery. When relay 1703' is actuated, contacts 183 and 184close to energize both the solenoid S2 controlling gate 154, and thetime delay relay T. Relay 170A, when actuated, closes contact 193 toenergize the time delay relay.

The operationis as follows: After each section of the hopper has beenproperly filled, the switches 128 will be open and some element of thepreceding line of machinery will be controlled by contact 201 to ceaseflow of stock to the hopper.

Assume that unit 40B is demanding cotton .because the level of cottonstock has fallen below the feeler motion'126B and'thus switch 128Bcloses. It is assumed that all toggle switches D have been manuallyclosed previously. Upon the closing of switch 128B, relay 170Ba'higherquality cotton in the'end because of the fact that the cottonstock inthe hopperswill constantly be maintained at a substantially:uuifprmleyel therein so that the same pressure is 1 9011 iall thecotton, passing through the'hopper;

Although certain specific embodiments of the invention have been shownand described, it is obvious that many modifications thereof arepossible. The invention, therefore, is notto be restricted exceptinsofar as is necessitated by the prior art and by the spirit of theappended claims.

. What'I claim is:

1. In combination, an outlet for eiriting fiber stock from a line ofprocessing machinery, a plurality of hoppers to be fed fiberstock, andautomatic distributing means receiving fiber stock from said outlet andimmedibe actuated through toggle switch D2, switch 128B,

and contacts 191 and 172. Relay 170B simultaneously opens contacts 181and 182, and closes contacts 183 and 184. Thus, open contact-181prevents relay 170C from being energized even if its switch 128C closes.

Similarly, contact 182 prevents relay A from be- 1 ing energized. Unit'3 must, therefore, receive a full supply of cotton stock and cannot berobbed of 'stock by the demands of units 40A or 40C. The closing ofcontact 183 energizes solenoid S2 to open normally closed gate 154. Atthe same time, contact 184- closes to energize time delay relay T. Theoperation of the other relays should now be apparent and a detailedexplanation thereof is not thought necessary.

It maynow be seen that an automatic distributor ha been shownanddescr-ibed which obviates all of the preiously mentioneddisadvantages of the distributors of the prior art, and whichaccomplishes all of the funcdeveloped which will control the flow ofcotton stock into lions set forth. Thus, an automatic distributor hasbeen its ownhopper, will feed a plurality of picker hoppers a supply ofcotton almost immediately upon demand of the pickers, and which alsoperforms a cleaning action.

In manner, at least one of the machines in the cleaning line may beeliminated since cleaning may take place the distributor, and the usualthree sections of the conventional picker need not be used since thecotton is in such lofty and clean condition that merely a finisherpicker is requiredto produce a proper-uniform and even lap. for thesucceeding carding operation.

By the use of this machine, production will be increased and a higherquality cotton may be produced, since there distributors. In using thisautomatic distributor, it will .is much less wasted mechanical actiongiven to the cotton, such as the recirculation performed by conventionalleast a p r on f 83 enclosure between Said feed r0115 performed duringfeeding.

3.. .lna distributing assembly, a housing having a number ofdistributingunits, a single hopper above said units ndzfe i g S ock diretly he to. sa h unit i d g a high speed main cylinder, .21 pair of lowspeed rolls feeding cotton stoch-fromsaidhopper to said cylinder, anenclosure surrounding said cylinder, an outlet formed in sa'idenclosurefor. directing cotton stock away from said unit, and means for startingand stopping the feeding rolls of ,each unit independently of thefeeding rolls of the pother units. 40

4. A distributing assembly comprising a housing havingenumber ofdistributing units, each unit including a high speed main cylinder, apair of low speed rolls feeding cotton stock to said cylinder, anenclosure surrounding said cylinder, an outlet formed in said enclosurefor directing cotton stock away from said unit, means for starting andstopping the feeding rolls of each unit independently of the feedingrolls of the other units, and means adapted to be attached to a pickerhopper for controlling the starting and stopping means in response tothe cotton stock level in the picker hopper.

5. A distributing assembly comprising a housing having a number ofdistributing units, each unit including a highspeed main cylinder, apair of low speed rolls feeding cotton stock to said cylinder, anenclosure surrounding said cylinder, an outlet formed in said enclosure,for directing cotton stock away from said unit, means for starting andstopping the feeding rolls of each unit independently of the. feedingrolls of the other units, a hopper in said housing directing cottonstock to said feed rolls, and means in said hopper for stopping thepreceding line of machinery feeding said hopper when it contains asufficient amount of cotton stock.

1 '6. A feeding and cleaning assembly comprising a housing having aplurality of independent and separately operable units, a single hoppercontaining and feeding stock to all-the units, each unit including aconstantly rotating high speed cylinder, an enclosure surrounding themajor portion of said cylinder, a pair of low speed rolls feeding amassof stock from the hopper to said cylinder -which removes tufts ofcotton from the stock, an outlet in said enclosure spaced more thandegrees angularly in the direction of stock flow from said feed rolls,at

and outlet constituting a cleaning surface, and means driving said feedrolls independently of the cylinder and of the feed rolls of adjacentunits.

7. The assembly of claim 6 comprising a cut-E bar mounted closelyadjacent said cylinder and the downstream side of said outlet for aidingin removing tufts of cotton from the cylinder and depositing them insaid outlet.

8. The assembly of claim 7 comprising air inlet means formed throughsaid housing substantially in the vicinity of the downstream side ofsaid cleaning surface so that the vacuum formed by the fast rotation ofthe cylinder will be relieved and a draft created which carries thetufts of cotton through said outlet.

9. The assembly of claim 8 comprising a clearer roll operative upon thedownstream one of said pair of feed rolls and rotating at a faster speedand in the same direction to prevent the cotton stock from Wrappingaround said one feed roll.

10. The assembly of claim 6 comprising a feeding device in the hopperfor properly distributing the cotton stock through the hopper.

11. The assembly of claim 10 wherein said hopper feeding device includesa constantly moving conveyor disposed above and between adjacent units,and a movable gate adjacent the feed end of each conveyor and disposedabove a unit for feeding cotton stock thereto when open.

12. The assembly of claim 11 comprising means for preventing the openingof a preceding gate While any unit is being fed.

13. A feeding and cleaning assembly comprising a housing having aplurality of independent and separately operable units, a single hoppercontaining and feeding stock to all the units, each unit including aconstantly rotating high speed cylinder, an enclosure surrounding themajor portion of said cylinder, a pair of low speed rolls feeding a massof stock from the hopper to said cylinder which removes tufts of cottonfrom the stock, an outlet in said enclosure, means driving said feedrolls independently of the cylinder and of the feed rolls of adjacentunits, and a hopper distributing mechanism for properly supplying stockto the units.

14. A feeding and cleaning assembly comprising a housing having aplurality of separately operable units, a hopper for receiving stock andfeeding it to each unit, each unit including a constantly rotating highspeed cylinder, an enclosure surrounding the major portion of saidcylinder, a pair of low speed rolls feeding a mass of stock from thehopper to said cylinder, an outlet in said enclosure spaced angularly inthe direction of stock flow from said feed rolls, at least a portion ofsaid enclosure between said feed rolls and said outlet constituting acleaning surface, and means driving said feed rolls independently of thecylinder and of the feed rolls of adjacent units.

15. The assembly of claim 13 wherein said stock distributing meansincludes a constantly moving conveyor disposed above and betweenadjacent units, and a movable gate adjacent the feed end of eachconveyor and disposed above a unit for feeding cotton stock theretowhen0 en.

16. The assembly of claim 15 wherein said stock distributing meansfurther includes means for'preventing the opening of a preceding gatewhile any unit is being fed.

17. In a fiber stock conveying mechanism, a plurality of conveyorsarranged in line and spaced'apart, each conveyor having a receiving endand a discharge end, movable gate members arranged in closed positionsbetween said conveyors to receive stock from the discharge end of thepreceding conveyor and release such stock onto the receiving end of thenext conveyor, and automatic means for independently moving each of saidgate members to an open position whereby the stock discharged from thepreceding conveyor will drop into an associated receiver device, saidautomatic means comprising an electric circuit including a solenoid foroperating each of said gate members, relays for energizing saidsolenoids, each of said relays being energized through a normally closedcontact of another relay whereby to prevent energization of two relaysand their associated solenoids simultaneously.

18. A fiber stock feeding assembly comprising a housing having aplurality of independent and separately operable units, a single hoppercontaining and feeding stock 'to all the units, each unit including aconstantly rotating high speed cylinder, a pair of low speed rollsfeeding a mass of stock from the hopper to said cylinder which removestufts of fiber from the stock, an outlet receiving fiber from saidcylinder, means driving said feed rolls independently of the cylinder,distributing means in said hopper including a plurality of constantlymoving and spaced conveyors disposed above and between adjacent units,movable gates between said conveyors and respectively disposed above anassociated unit for feeding fiber stock thereto when open, and means forautomatically operating said gates one at a time in response to the needfor replenishing fiber stock in each of said units and for stopping apreceding line of machinery, said last named means including time delaymeans operable to prevent instantaneous stopping of the preceding lineof machinery upon simultaneous satisfaction of the needs of all of saidunits for fiber stock.

19. The assembly according to claim 18 wherein said last named meanscomprises an electric circuit including a solenoid for operating each ofsaid gates, relays for energizing said solenoids, each of said relaysbeing energized through a normally closed contact of another relaywhereby to prevent energization of two relays and their associatedsolenoids simultaneously, and a time delay relay energized with each ofsaid other relays operable when deenergized to break the circuit of saidpreceding line of machinery.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS397,849 Gates Feb. 12, 1889 850,107 Wolever Apr. 9, 1907 1,407,500Thomas Feb. 21, 1922 1,544,964 Wooldridge July 7, 1925 1,875,356 ShawSept. 6, 1932 1,886,713 Mitchell Nov. 8, 1932 1,971,421 Mackenzie Aug.28, 1934 2,360,583 Riehl Oct. 17, 1944 2,879,905 Beech et a1 Mar. 31,1959

